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BeyondBlue Hello! Read this if you're not sure how to get started
  • replies: 0

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with Depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for ... View more

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with Depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for coming this far, we know it can be really hard to take these steps if depression is in your life - we see you and think this is a great step. To get the most out of this space we have a few tips: Get involved. The Forums work best for you when you get active and post where you can. Now, we know that can be really hard, especially when you are experiencing depression. So, if you can post something supportive to someone else here, that would be an incredible start. Speak from the heart. This community wants to know how YOU feel and what has worked for YOU. We trust that you have something unique to say and we can’t wait to hear it. Check in. Lots of the chats on this Forum having been going for years and they are some of the richest conversations we have. Keep checking in to get new ideas and offer your support. We know it can be tough to start, but when you are ready we want to hear your thoughts. If you need some time to get to know the community, that's okay! Have a look around and see where you want to get involved. Thank you for being here Beyond Blue

Jeriava How do I talk to my doctor?
  • replies: 9

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really ... View more

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really scared that they’ll judge me or won’t believe anything I say. I’m really anti social so I feel like I won’t be able to say what I wanna say or I’ll say the wrong thing causing them to just dismiss me and move me along without helping. I’m just tired of feeling alone, depressed and just worthless but I’m really scared to talk to them.

AGrace SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING DEPRESSION
  • replies: 132

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the ... View more

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the 5 senses Distress Tolerance – Accepting Emotions and Self Soothing Distraction – Put the thoughts/feelings aside and come back to them when you are ready to deal with them Positive Affirmations – Have some affirmations written down repeat them to yourself daily Sleep/Exercise/Diet – All 3 aspects of our lifestyle can impact the way we think/feel Increasing Pleasurable Activities – Engage in at least one pleasurable activity per day

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Imagine When life doesn’t really get better...
  • replies: 25

Hi folks, Well, I’ve been MIA a while now. After my world fell completely apart, and every therapy offered to me through the system failed, I gave up seeking answers and threw myself into trying to build a new life. I’ve bought myself a house, learne... View more

Hi folks, Well, I’ve been MIA a while now. After my world fell completely apart, and every therapy offered to me through the system failed, I gave up seeking answers and threw myself into trying to build a new life. I’ve bought myself a house, learned skills I never thought I could learn, reached out socially, created a fb group for a personal interest that’s grown to hundreds of members and benefits charities and have continued to work all the while. But my chronic illness has remained unchanged, I am still in constant pain and exhausted, medically unfit to drive, stuck in a low paid job because I’m not physically capable of more challenging work, and I’m not one tiny bit closer to the dreams I lost. My house does not feel like a home even after 3 years and lots of work trying to make it my own, because I live alone with my pets. I feel like the life I have now is wrong for me, it’s not a bad life, I don’t mean to complain that I don’t have “enough”, I’m not ungrateful. But it feels like it doesn’t fit me and it chafes and makes me hurt deeply all of the time. Yes there are moments of pleasure in little things, but that’s just a band aid and offers no healing. I hide the depression because I’m either not wanting to burden the people I love any more than they have suffered already, or I’ve been told I should be over it by now (by people who have everything I’ve ever wished for). My question is, what do I do now? I’ve run out of things I can think of to try. My younger self’s dreams were to have a career and travel the world with the love of my life. I can’t think of any new dreams that even come close to those shattered ones. The career is impossible, travel financially out of reach even without COVID and well, love, love isn’t for me. I also lost the home that I had put my heart and soul into when my health failed before my marriage failed too. Would welcome advice please and thank you. There must be a way to learn to live with this quiet desperation, even if I cannot escape it. Thank you

tallulahgoesrawr Need some support anxiety/depression & feeling guilty
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone this is my first post, I have suffered from anxiety and depression for probably 10 years now, last year I decided to seek help and I started on medication - it has been a huge help and made things feel more achievable and definitely taken... View more

Hi everyone this is my first post, I have suffered from anxiety and depression for probably 10 years now, last year I decided to seek help and I started on medication - it has been a huge help and made things feel more achievable and definitely taken the edge off of my anxiety and has made it more manageable. however some days are worst than others and I find I still get burnt out rather easily - I work full time in retail and working during stage 4 restrictions is definitely taking a toll with the craziness and extra work we are doing every day. i have many down days and I feel as though lately my down days have been more often as I am isolated from a lot of friends and family I tried to talk to my mum about it but she doesn’t quite understand depression and that I just can’t help but feel sad/lonely/anxious etc she sees it as a sort of ungratefulness I often feel guilty that I’m sad or feeling down because I have a good life and I’m lucky and I don’t want to be ungrateful for all of the good things I do have but I still have the down days and I still have the anxiety and loneliness I do a lot of things to try to keep ontop of my mental health ie) eating well, routine, good sleep schedule, getting 10k steps a day, etc does anyone else feel this way?? Or maybe have some recommendations of things I could try to help?? thank you in advance tallulah

Antelope9 Kind of scary
  • replies: 7

So after many years of struggling with depression, I have found some sort of respite in a mental health team that over 2 years have given me some sort of explanation for the strange highs and lows of my life. I’m glad they took the time for me. As a ... View more

So after many years of struggling with depression, I have found some sort of respite in a mental health team that over 2 years have given me some sort of explanation for the strange highs and lows of my life. I’m glad they took the time for me. As a Psychology graduate, I insisted on a thought out diagnosis from at least 2 sources. Bipolar type 2 (no surprise) Borderline Personality Disorder. Amongst my peers and family dynamics, who have always described me as ‘resilient’, It has come to a point recently that I could not deny that I cannot cope. I could not front up and keep being the person who has generally, helped everybody else. So when I needed help, the resources where exhausted. I have joined this forum, as suggested by a patient team of said professionals, in the hope that I can find some people who understand what it means to be exhausted. How it feels to feel so absolutely alone, and sometimes really afraid. That sometimes you can have a veneer of strength and yet be on the verge of suicide. And when you tell someone, it does not make sense.

DeepBlue1771 Lockdown struggle
  • replies: 9

Citizen from Melbourne, home of the brave and the free. Hearing police sirens outside as I type. Just wondering whether anyone else is struggling with this lockdown, now extended possibly indefinitely. I live alone in an apartment, and the Groundhog ... View more

Citizen from Melbourne, home of the brave and the free. Hearing police sirens outside as I type. Just wondering whether anyone else is struggling with this lockdown, now extended possibly indefinitely. I live alone in an apartment, and the Groundhog Day existence of working from home all day with the only highlights being a walk/cycle and a trip to the grocery store is getting to me. I can't fathom living like this for another year. Anyone else feel the same?

JessMo This is my life
  • replies: 4

Weekdays, I get up and make myself just presentable enough to drive my daughter to school, then drive home and close the front door on the world. Unless I have to get groceries or petrol, I don’t go out. I don’t talk to anyone. I don’t have any frien... View more

Weekdays, I get up and make myself just presentable enough to drive my daughter to school, then drive home and close the front door on the world. Unless I have to get groceries or petrol, I don’t go out. I don’t talk to anyone. I don’t have any friends and barely talk to family members. If I am asked how I’m doing, I’ll deflect until that line of questioning goes away. My parents (who are the main cause of my issues) do ask how I am but I don’t trust them to let them in my head. They’ve mellowed a bit over the years but I don’t see them as emotionally healthy. I feel detached from everything, even from people on forums like this who have similar symptoms/experiences to me. So I ignore everything and live in a very small world. And I feel as much relief as discomfort in living like this. I’m 40 and I don’t work so am to an extent, having to rely on someone else to financially cover what I can’t. I hate this and they aren’t thrilled about it either. This is a family member who has similar emotional problems to me but is able to work. I feel shame and guilt at having to rely on someone like this. Im a good mum with a great relationship with my daughter, by being far more aware of her needs and emotions and wanting her to be happy. She is the only reason I’m still here. I want more out of life than this but I don’t know where to even begin. The numbness and isolation is what I’m used to, is my ‘safe’ place but I know it’s no way to live. So how do I even begin to move forward?

JamesS Economic Recession Inducing Psychological Depression
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I'm wondering if there are other members on here following the financial news of the coronavirus recession, and its implications for the economy. All the economic evidence points to a severe and prolonged downturn, with high unemployment rema... View more

Hi all, I'm wondering if there are other members on here following the financial news of the coronavirus recession, and its implications for the economy. All the economic evidence points to a severe and prolonged downturn, with high unemployment remaining for the foreseeable future (several years...). I'm really struggling to get motivated as I am now unemployed and living off savings, and I can't see any clear indication of the economy improving. I can't find much motivation to do anything economically productive, and am only coping by instigating a self-care regime that doesn't involved any 'work'. While this is working, it does not feel sustainable. How are people coping with this circumstance ? Thank you

Obey I think I have emotional numbness
  • replies: 3

Hi, i feel like all this year my emotions have disappeared and I am not my normal self. i am not sure if it is just COVID and not seeing my friends or anyone I love or if it is something that has been manifesting for a while. any help is appreciated

Hi, i feel like all this year my emotions have disappeared and I am not my normal self. i am not sure if it is just COVID and not seeing my friends or anyone I love or if it is something that has been manifesting for a while. any help is appreciated

debselicious What helped you through depression ?
  • replies: 1

Hi. Im a lifelong sufferer of depression, and to date have not found much outside of medication that has helped. I’m interested in activities and recreation that people find helpful for their depression. Any suggestions welcome :).

Hi. Im a lifelong sufferer of depression, and to date have not found much outside of medication that has helped. I’m interested in activities and recreation that people find helpful for their depression. Any suggestions welcome :).

WolvesHaveNoKings Realised tonight - there is no point in trying.
  • replies: 3

I don't really know what I'm even doing here. I don't think I have depression. Tonight a physical health issue has gotten worse after months of improving and it hit me that everything I have strived to improve over the past 10 years has gotten me abs... View more

I don't really know what I'm even doing here. I don't think I have depression. Tonight a physical health issue has gotten worse after months of improving and it hit me that everything I have strived to improve over the past 10 years has gotten me absolutely nowhere and has been completely pointless. I'm 30, I live alone in community housing, I clean schools at night, I have no kids or family. My mum died 7 years ago and my dad wants to spend all his time with his awful girlfriend. I'm poor with no good career prospects, I have a frustrating health issue and I see no point in trying to improve my life anymore. 10 years of failure is enough for me. What has hurt me so much tonight is that (Christian theme ahead) through all of these years I've tried to keep my spirits up by saying that at least I have God to love and talk to. Tonight I've realised I don't. I've been fooling myself, too afraid to admit I really do have nothing. God doesn't love me, he doesn't help, guide or encourage me. I don't feel his love or support. I doubt he even knows I exist. Maybe he doesn't exist himself. I've let go of the lie that was keeping me going. Now I see I have no real reason to live for any happiness. There is no point, there is no purpose, there is no reason. From now on I live only for the sake of the two cats beside me.

Unsureofdisplayname Is it ok to not want to participate in life any more?
  • replies: 3

Asking this question in a search engine bought me to this website. I dont think I am overly depressed at all and I dont mean this question in a suicidal way. What I mean by this is I dont wish to participate in society any more but I am quite happy t... View more

Asking this question in a search engine bought me to this website. I dont think I am overly depressed at all and I dont mean this question in a suicidal way. What I mean by this is I dont wish to participate in society any more but I am quite happy to not be around people, to not interact and I am comfortable in my own company. The issue I am debating with myself about is financials and fairness. To not participate in society means not having a job or career and having to rely on another person to support me. Which I have. I realise not everybody is in this position and I am worrying if this is going to bring bad karma to me? A little more about my reasons...I am not good around people. I give off a desperate aura begging to be loved. Or at least i used to. I got taken advantage of over and over throughout the years because I was weak and pathetic and forgiving. I'm not a likeable person. I suffer on and off with different levels of anxiety and depression and I cannot fake being normal. I've not managed to hold down any job for a long amount of time and often blank out under stress. I dont trust people. I seem to attract people like my abusive parent and although i understand the psychology of why, It changes nothing. I still attract them. I'm not close to any family member and past attempts have left me broken. I do have one person who isn't exactly supportive of my decision but allows me to do so. This is what I am struggling with. Relying on one person to take care of me when i am physically able to hold down a job and force myself to interact regardless of how painful and stressful any and every interaction is. Am I selfish choosing this? Will I receive bad karma for living this way? I dont feel like I have any more attempts in me to live a relatively normal life but I dread there might be a day where I am forced to either do that or ask the government to help me which I would loathe to do.